Mildred Bailey was quite popular for a time, being married to vibraphonist
Red Norvo; the couple was referred to as "Mr. & Mrs. Swing." After their divorce, the swinging vocalist continued to record until diabetes sidelined her not long before her premature death in 1951. This Savoy CD compilation gathers recordings that she made with the
Eddie Sauter Orchestra and the
Ellis Larkins Orchestra, along with a small group date with a rhythm section led by
Larkins.
Bailey's sweet voice and clear enunciation give her a little girl quality at times. Her moving take of
Mel Tormé's "Born to be Blue" and softly swinging "Lover, Come Back to Me" are among the highlights. The first CD issued in 1992 had a miserly playing time of just over 31 minutes, though a 2000 reissue added four more tracks. ~ Ken Dryden